Forbes magazine released the list of 40 richest people of Indonesia in total wealth reached U.S. $ 71 billion or Rp640 trillion.

Brothers, Michael Bambang Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono still maintain the top position with a fortune of U.S. $ 11 billion.

One of the surprising is the position Anthoni Salim, Indofood Group boss. Rating Anthony last year was in ninth position with a fortune of U.S. $ 1.4 billion. This year, Anthony rose to the rank fifth with a total wealth of U.S. $ 3 billion.

Anthony is the son of tycoon Liem Sioe Liong, who is known businessman close to the New Order government. At the time of monetary crisis in 1998, the Salim Group business fell. Anthony also had to submit to the government about 108 firms in order to pay Rp 52.7 trillion debt.

However, the money machine “Indofood” not including those submitted to the National Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). Only a small portion of Indofood shares transferred to IBRA. Control retained by the Salim Group, despite the time Anthony was behind the screen.

Several years after the crisis, the Salim Group began to shine. In 2004, six years after the crisis, Anthony again. He took back the reins of leadership Indofood held by Eva Riyanti Hutapea.

From then until now, Anthony has served as President and Chief Executive Corporate Director (CEO) of Indofood since 2004. In addition, Anthony also served as President Director and CEO of the Salim Group.

Now Indofood continue to grow and evolve as the king of the food industry in Indonesia. In fact, Indofood increasingly integrated business and moving from upstream to downstream. The company is engaged in the agribusiness sector, the flour industry, food products to control distribution channels.

Part of the funds will be used enterprise development, such as increasing the capacity of the plant for milk, flavoring food, nutrition and food cans. No less important is the boost of instant noodle factory, the most popular products made in Indofood.

Especially for instant noodles, adding capacity digeber factory in Jakarta, Palembang and Semarang. “The capacity of noodle will didongkrak 13 percent from the current 15.7 billion packs per year,” said Secretary of the Company Indofood Sukses Makmur, Werianty Setiawan some time ago.

The production capacity of dozens of billion packs per year is not a joke. That puts instant noodle producer Indofood as the largest in the world. Of the total capacity, as much as 11 billion package is the product Indomie. Of that amount, as many as 880 million packs exported.

Once the production of Indomie make this brand synonymous with instant noodles are very attached and is widely known community. Not just known from Sabang to Merauke, or the island of Timor to the island of Talaud. However, far Indomie instant noodle brand beat his brother, such as instant noodles, Sarimi or Pop Mie. Not surprisingly, Indomie consistently get a number of prestigious awards each year.

Even more amazing, Indomie is not only popular in Indonesia, but also in foreign countries. According to the Director of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, Franciscus Welirang, Indomie has been exported to 80 countries on five continents for more than 20 years. Indomie is not only popular in neighboring countries in Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong to Taiwan.

However, Indomie has flown thousands of kilometers away from Europe, the Middle East, Africa to the Americas. In the countries of Africa and the Middle East, such as Sudan and Lebanon are in fact almost every retail stores and supermarkets. In the United States, Indomie has been one of the cheapest favorite Christmas gifts.

With such a broad market to 80 countries, not surprisingly, Indofood’s business empire continues to progress. As a result, during the first semester of 2010 alone, the total assets of the company commanded by Anthoni Salim surged to Rp11, 2 compared to Rp10 trillion, 2 trillion a year earlier. Sales rose 11 percent to Rp8, 91 trillion from Rp 8, 03 trillion. And, the net profit also jumped sharply from Rp555, 08 billion in June 2009 to Rp809 billion, a year later.

Of course, Indomie is the largest contributor to revenue Indofood. Its contribution reached almost 70 percent of all branded products made in Indofood